1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,160 2023 was an interesting year to be sure. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:05,200 There were many happenings that caused people 3 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:06,880 to scratch their heads and wonder, 4 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:10,080 are we truly living in an upside down world? 5 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,600 But then there were other events that floored many of us 6 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,720 and made us realize God truly is moving his kingdom 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:19,120 into a new season. 8 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,240 Hello everyone, I'm James Lasher with Charisma Media. 9 00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:25,320 This year started off with a spiritual sucker punch 10 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,160 as Pastor Jack Hayford of Church on the Way 11 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:32,680 in Van Nuys, California went home after running a race 12 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:34,280 we all should strive for. 13 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,800 Pastor Jack served the Lord with love and grace 14 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,480 to all who encountered him and helped shape 15 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:42,520 a generation of leaders to do the same. 16 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,320 While his accomplishments could take up 17 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:46,320 an entire documentary series, 18 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,520 Pastor Jack lived his life in a way 19 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,000 that made him the most admired and well-known pastor 20 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,240 in the four square denomination since Amy Semple Macpherson. 21 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,640 I have been personally blessed by the work of Pastor Jack 22 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:01,360 without ever having met him. 23 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,680 That is because I used the Bible he was the executive 24 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,320 in charge of publishing, the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, 25 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:11,440 and I am forever grateful for the insight and knowledge 26 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,160 I've gained having used it. 27 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,760 Hayford also served as the founder and president 28 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,560 of the King's University which was established in 1997. 29 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,960 Pastor Charles Stanley also left the earthly realm this year 30 00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:26,040 and is another Titan of the faith that I grew up watching 31 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:27,000 with my mother. 32 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,440 She would turn on the television 33 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,320 to watch his broadcasted Bible teachings in the morning 34 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:34,160 and they were a true blessing for both her and I. 35 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,240 Stanley was the senior pastor of First Baptist Church 36 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,040 in Atlanta for 49 years, as well as the founder 37 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,360 and president of In Touch Ministries, 38 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,280 the source of those sermons that planted a seed of faith 39 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,400 in me all those years ago. 40 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,120 Few teachers of the word were able to bring it to life 41 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:52,800 the way Pastor Stanley did. 42 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,520 Following shortly after Pastor Stanley's passing 43 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,640 was Dr. Tim Keller who battled pancreatic cancer 44 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:00,200 for more than three years. 45 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,480 Dr. Keller earned his nickname as the C.S. Lewis 46 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,440 of his generation for his pragmatic approach to scripture 47 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,200 and was one of the most effective apologists 48 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,080 and evangelists of his time. 49 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,200 His teachings helped many who were struggling 50 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,120 with their faith, including Christian musical artist, 51 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,720 Lecrae, who said Dr. Keller's writings 52 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,200 in his book, Prodigal Prophet, helped save his life 53 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,200 when he was contemplating ending it. 54 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,600 Dr. Keller served in the pastoral ministry 55 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,600 for over four decades, during which he founded 56 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,200 Redeemer Presbyterian Church and the Redeemer 57 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,720 City to City Church Planning Network. 58 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,560 And finally, we have the founder 59 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,080 of the Christian Broadcasting Network, Dr. Pat Robertson. 60 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:42,840 How much time do we have to go over 61 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,960 this one man's accomplishments on Earth? 62 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,360 From founding a Christian media empire 63 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,560 to engaging in politics and standing against the evil 64 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,720 spreading into American culture, Dr. Robertson shares 65 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,880 a place in Christian leadership alongside few others, 66 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,000 save perhaps the late Billy Graham. 67 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,560 Dr. Robertson's flagship program, the 700 Club, 68 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,000 opened a channel for him to reach more people 69 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,680 with the gospel of Jesus Christ than perhaps 70 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,040 any other human in modern history. 71 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,760 These men of faith, these spiritual giants, 72 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,680 are not being discussed for their greatness, 73 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,280 but for the greatness the Lord accomplished through them. 74 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,040 And they would tell you the same thing. 75 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,000 They were all humble servants who changed the world 76 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,920 with the lives they led in submission to God. 77 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:31,480 But now, as the Lord has called his servants home, 78 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,960 there is a changing of the guard taking place 79 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:35,280 within the church. 80 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,280 New voices are rising to proclaim the inerrant 81 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,640 and perfect word of God and to continue to answer 82 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,080 the call of the Great Commission. 83 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:48,320 While millions, perhaps billions, have been blessed 84 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,440 by the sermons of those mentioned here, 85 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,520 the job is not done. 86 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,040 We are entering into a time where the West 87 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:59,080 is turning away from God in every aspect of culture. 88 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,400 During such times as these, we need new leaders 89 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,400 to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ 90 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:10,040 to a world that is increasingly hostile to that message. 91 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,880 Jesus told his disciples in John 15 92 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,120 that though the world hates them, it hated him first. 93 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,280 The world we live in today surely hates the truth 94 00:04:20,280 --> 00:04:22,120 that is found in Jesus Christ, 95 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,080 which is why everything of God, 96 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:28,120 from his design, his principles, even his word, 97 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,720 is trying to be corrupted by those of the world. 98 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,800 While the word of God cannot be corrupted, 99 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,160 people can be deceived into believing false doctrines 100 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:42,640 that point to other sources of salvation than Jesus Christ, 101 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,000 or that make allowance for sin in people's lives 102 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,560 and do not teach how the Christian life is to be led. 103 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,240 That is why we need a strong, 104 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,720 disciplined Christian leadership today. 105 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,560 We need men and women of God to stand strong 106 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,640 against the tide of evil and apostasy, 107 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:06,480 looking to draw people away from the source of eternal life. 108 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,400 The world may try to cancel them, 109 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,720 and all too often we see Christians who proclaim the truth 110 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,560 targeted by mobs and governments alike. 111 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,840 But as fear and uncertainty will try 112 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:18,280 and grab the hearts of many, 113 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:21,240 we can always rely on the words of Jesus 114 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,080 in John 16, 33 for comfort. 115 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,000 I have told you these things 116 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,120 so that in me you may have peace. 117 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:32,020 In the world you will have tribulation, 118 00:05:32,020 --> 00:05:36,100 but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. 119 00:05:36,100 --> 00:05:38,340 So as we honor the men and women of faith 120 00:05:38,340 --> 00:05:41,860 who have gone before us and have run the good race, 121 00:05:41,860 --> 00:05:45,520 we keep looking to Jesus as our source of strength 122 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:50,000 and renewal and to continue spreading his saving message 123 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,380 in a dying world. 124 00:05:51,380 --> 00:05:53,600 I'm James Lasher with Charisma Media. 125 00:05:53,600 --> 00:06:16,440 God bless you.